Chapter 7: An Unexpected Encounter
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Adam crouched in the bushes, observing the battlefield where he had just defeated the five Fang Wolves.
His lips curled into a satisfied smile as he reflected on his accomplishment. Slowly, he rose from his hiding spot, stepping out into the clearing where the slain wolves lay.
As Adam approached, he noticed something strange—the bodies of the Fang Wolves began to shimmer with a faint blue light.
The glow intensified, and within moments, the corpses started to disintegrate, breaking apart into tiny particles of light before vanishing entirely.
In their place, small piles of loot appeared on the forest floor. Adam's curiosity piqued, and he moved closer.
Kneeling beside one of the piles, he saw that the loot included 25 copper coins, two Fang Wolf fangs—a rare specialty item—and raw Fang Wolf meat.
He quickly examined the other piles, and a blue system window appeared before him:
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Congratulations, AlphaBoss! You have collected:
10 Fang Wolf Fangs
2.5 kg of Raw Fang Wolf Meat
125 Copper Coins
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The loot automatically transferred to Adam's inventory. A soft chime accompanied the notification, and Adam's grin widened. "Not bad," he muttered, pleased with the outcome.
Wanting to review his progress, Adam spoke aloud, "Status window."
A familiar blue screen materialized in front of him, displaying his updated stats:
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Name: AlphaBoss
Species: Human
Class: Administrator
Level: 1
Experience: 2500/100
HP: 100/100
MP: 10/100
Physical Stats:
Stamina: 5
Endurance: 5
Intelligence: 5
Strength: 5
Agility: 5
Luck: 3
Skills:
Reality Manipulation (Level 1) - Cooldown: 22 hours remaining
Mark and Attack
________________________
Adam studied the interface with a sense of accomplishment. "I've accumulated quite a bit of experience," he said to himself.
"The early stages always grant more XP, but it becomes exponentially harder as you progress. I know this well."
Satisfied, Adam dismissed the window and began walking back toward the Beginner Village. He glanced at his MP points, which were nearly depleted. "I should return," he thought. "I need to let my mana recharge before I can use my skills again."
On his way back through the forest, Adam encountered another player.
A young woman stood ahead, her presence catching Adam's attention.
She had striking golden hair that shimmered in the sunlight filtering through the trees, and she held a sword confidently in her hand.
The moment her eyes fell on Adam, her expression shifted to one of surprise.
She seemed to study him intently before blurting out, "You ventured deeper into the forest, didn't you?"
Adam didn't reply immediately, his gaze fixed on her with quiet curiosity.
The girl's eyes darted to his outfit, noting the fine details of his dark, stealth-enhanced gear. Her expression turned from surprise to admiration.
"You must be a pro player," she said, her tone impressed. "To have such an advanced set of equipment right after the game's release… it's incredible."
She stepped closer, offering a friendly smile. "My name's Kamiko," she introduced herself.
Adam's eyes narrowed slightly at the name, recognition flashing in his mind. "Kamiko," he thought.
Memories from his previous life surfaced—Kamiko was destined to become one of the top members of the Goldenrod Guild, a powerful organization in the game's future.
Adam remembered her reputation vividly. Kamiko had an uncanny ability to seize opportunities and turn them to her advantage.
She was both resourceful and opportunistic, traits that had made her a force to be reckoned with in his past life.
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Adam stood silently, studying Kamiko with newfound interest.
Adam thoughts already calculating the potential implications of meeting someone as significant as Kamiko this early in the game.
Adam's sharp mind, armed with knowledge from the future, already knew who Kamiko was. He kept his expression neutral, observing her carefully as she stepped closer, a smile lighting up her face.
Kamiko extended her hand enthusiastically. "I've always wanted to meet a pro player! I can't believe I'm meeting one on the very first day of the game!"
Her gaze shifted to the name displayed above Adam's character: AlphaBoss. "That's a really cool name," she said, her tone admiring. "It shows how dedicated you are."
Adam, aware of Kamiko's opportunistic personality from his previous life, remained silent. He didn't want to engage or reveal anything that might make him vulnerable.
Undeterred by his silence, Kamiko leaned in slightly, tilting her head with a playful expression. "Is AlphaBoss your real name? I used my real name for my character," she said, her voice light and casual.
Adam stayed quiet, his calculated gaze not betraying a single thought.
Kamiko pouted slightly, her expression shifting to one of playful frustration. "Why aren't you saying anything? Is your mic off?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Finally, Adam broke his silence, his tone sharp and direct. "Can you leave me alone? I need to get back to the village."
Without waiting for her response, he turned and walked past her, his strides purposeful.
Kamiko stood frozen for a moment, clearly surprised. "Did he just ignore me?" she thought, a mix of shock and indignation flashing across her face.
Recovering quickly, she smiled and began following him, her voice cheerful as she called out, "So, I was right—you really are a pro player!"
Adam's frustration grew with every step. He could hear her footsteps trailing him and her voice filling the air. Kamiko's persistence was becoming a problem, and Adam knew why.
"I also have some work in the village so I will come with you" kamiko says this to Adam while smiling
He thought bitterly, "If she sticks around, she might learn too much. I can't let her figure out how much hidden knowledge I have about the game."
As they exited the forest, Adam hoped Kamiko would lose interest and stop following him. But she continued to chatter, her tone filled with admiration and curiosity.
Adam glanced back briefly, his annoyance evident. "Why is she still here?" he wondered. "Ignoring her isn't working."
Kamiko, seemingly oblivious to Adam's irritation, tried to engage him in conversation. "So, AlphaBoss, where are you heading? You don't seem like the talkative type," she teased, her tone lighthearted.
Adam stopped suddenly, turning to face her. His abrupt motion caught Kamiko off guard, and she paused, her expression turning curious.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Adam's frustration boiled over. "Will you stop following me? I need to focus on the game!" he said sharply.
Kamiko blinked, surprised by his outburst. "I'm not stopping you from playing," she replied calmly. "You can focus on your game. I'm just walking in the same direction."
Adam's eyes narrowed. "You being here is distracting me," he said bluntly.
Kamiko shrugged, her playful demeanor returning. "I'm not stopping you from doing anything. Go ahead and focus on your game. I'll just be here, walking wherever I want."
Adam sighed deeply, his irritation growing. "Just leave me alone," he said firmly.
Kamiko tilted her head, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Alright, I'll leave you alone," she said sweetly. "But only on one condition."
Adam's expression shifted to one of suspicion. "Condition? What condition?" he asked warily.
"If you accept my friend request and add me to your friend list, I'll leave you alone," Kamiko said, her tone cheerful yet determined.
Adam hesitated, weighing his options. Adding her to his friend list wouldn't pose any real risk. After all, he could always ignore her messages or remove her later if necessary.
With a reluctant nod, Adam said, "Fine."
Kamiko's smile widened, and Adam sighed inwardly, realizing that his calculated decision had set the stage for an unforeseen dynamic.
The chapter ended with Adam reluctantly accepting Kamiko's request, leaving both of them contemplating the strange encounter.